The Wichita State men's golf team looks to defend its titles at the Joe Feaganes Marshall Invitational, Monday and Tuesday, Sept. 9-10 in Huntington, W.Va.
 
The Shockers won the 2018 team title by six strokes over Eastern Kentucky, led by individual medalist Zac Owens. In his collegiate debut, Owens finished 8-under par over two rounds to best EKU's Billy Basham by two shots.
 
The two-day, three-round event – played at Guyan Golf and Country Club -- tees off Monday morning with 36 holes.
 
Fans can track live scores via birdiefire.com or by following @goshockersMGLF on twitter.
 

---

JOE FEAGANES MARSHALL INVITATIONAL:
Date: Monday-Tuesday; Sept. 9-10
Host: Marshall University
Site: Huntingston, W.Va.
Course: Guyan Golf & Country Club
Par: 71
Yardage: 6,573
Format: 36-18; 5-Count-4
Live Scoring: BirdieFire (Link)
 
THE FIELD:
The field consists of 16 teams. Wichita State is joined by Belmont, Cleveland State, Dayton, Eastern Kentucky, Eastern Michigan, George Washington, Longwood, host Marshall, Mount St. Mary's, Ohio, Saint Francis, VCU, William & Mary, Wright State and Youngstown State. VCU (A-10) and Wright State (Horizon) each qualified for NCAA Regional play last spring after winning their respective conference championships.
 
SHOCKER LINEUP:
1. Zac Owens (So.) – Defending event champion; team-high four top-10 finishes in 2018-19.
2. Joe Bultman (Fr.) – Collegiate debut for the former Kansas 6A player of the year.
3. Dawson Lewis (So.) – Tied for 14^th last year with a season-low 69 in the opening round.
4. Grayson Wallace (So.) – 2018 Oklahoma Class 5A State Champion.
5. Lake Leroux (Jr.) – Hutchinson CC transfer makes his NCAA D-I debut.
 

---

UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT:

WSU's first fall action also marks the start of the Judd Easterling era. The former Shocker All-American replaces legendary head coach Grier Jones, who had led the program since 1996.
 
"The transition has been pretty seamless," Easterling said. "Obviously, I learned a lot under him, playing for him and then coaching under him the last three years."
 
But one thing he wasn't prepared for…
 
"I've never been this tired," Easterling joked. "But it's a good kind of tired. Trying to make sure things are done the right way; the way that we expect."
 
His first squad lacks experience – seven of the eight players on the roster are underclassmen and the other is getting his first taste of Division I golf – but many of his young charges are already behaving like veterans.
 
"We don't have vocal leaders, but we have guys that lead by example," Easterling noted. "Guys are doing the right things and doing them the way that we expect around here."
 
Easterling's lineup for the opener is based on cumulative scores from two weeks of qualifying rounds. Owens, whose 2018-19 season stroke average (73.74) is tops among returning Shockers, continued that trend by shooting a team-best 19-under par across seven rounds. Freshman Joe Bultman nipped at his heels, finishing just two shots back.
 
"Those two guys are pushing each other," Easterling noted. "Other guys are pushing and trying to close the gap."
 

---

COACH JUDD EASTERLING ON…
 
… Returning to Huntington as defending champs:
"It's good to go back there. It's a good golf course. Hopefully we can go there and beat some decent teams and get off to a good start. I just hope the guys can build on the good qualifier that we had and ride some success from this first event."
 
… What he looks for in a season-opener (beyond the scorecard):
"I'm hoping the guys buy in to preparation. We'll get there Saturday and hopefully play some holes that afternoon. I just want to see the guys preparing the right way, practicing the right way and using Saturday and Sunday to their fullest capability to learn about the golf course, the grass, the fairways, the rough, the greens, taking good notes. By the time Monday rolls around we should be ready to go.
 
… The hardest adjustment for freshmen to collegiate golf:
"The biggest thing for the freshmen is coming in here and getting comfortable with going to class, traveling, playing a lot of golf, coming back and taking care of your academics before going on the next trip. It does take a little bit of time to learn, but I think the freshmen we have will do a good enough job."